Post-hole digger.



W. G. STOWBRS.

POST HOLE DIGGER.

APPLICATION TILED MAR.26,1913.

1 1 1 6, 1 54, Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

W/ T/VESSES IN l/E 1V T0]? M44097 6 Gran/[R5,

d. L/" By W A TTORNEYS VH5 NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTO-Lllfl-l. WASHINGTON.D Cv UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM G. STOWERS, 0F BLAGKSBURG, VIRGINIA.

POST-HOLE DIGGER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. STOW- nns, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Blacksburg, in the county of Montgomeryand State ofVirginia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Post-HoleDiggers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in augers of the type adapted for boringin earth, and for use with post hole diggers or like machines, and hasfor its object to provide a simple, inexpensive and easily operateddevice of the character specified, wherein separable cutting mechanismis provided, capable of detachment for repairs or replacement, andwherein mechanism is provided for connection with the cutting mechanismor bit for loosening the earth as it is cut, or before it is engaged bythe bit.

In the drawings :--Figure 1 is a side view of the improved auger, Fig. 2is an enlarged detail of a portion of Fig. 1, with parts in section, andFig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the anger or drill.

The present embodiment of the invention comprises a shaft 1, on which ismounted a sleeve 2, the sleeve extending from near the lower end of theshaft to a point intermediate the ends thereof. The sleeve is held inplace by means of a bolt and nut 3, the bolt being passed transverselyof the sleeve and the shaft and engaged by the nut to hold the parts inplace.

A spiral blade or vane l is secured to the outer surface of the sleeve,the vane extending from one end of the sleeve to the other, and thespirals of the vane are well separated, as will be noticed from aninspection of Fig. 1, to prevent rocks and like hard bodies frombecoming jammed between adjacent portions thereof.

The lower end of the shaft 1 reduced and screw threaded as indicated at5, and a cutting bit or blade is arranged on the shaft at the lower endthereof. The cutting bit or blade consists of integral portions (3 and6, arranged at an angle with respect to each other, and a central hub 7which fits over the lower end of the shaft as shown in Fig. 2.

The bore of the hub 7 is reduced at the lower end thereof, as indicatedat 8 for fitting the threaded portion of the shaft, and the upper end ofthe hub fits against the lower end of the sleeve 2. The spiral bladeSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 26, 1913. Serial No. 756,887.

. Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

or vane 4 extends below the lower end. of the sleeve 2, fitting againstthe peripheral surface of that portion of the hub 7, which extends abovethe portion (3--(5 of the bit or blade.

The bit or blade is held in place by a nut I 9, the nut being threadedon to the reduced portion 5 of the shaft, and the nut is provided with aconical tip or point 10. which extends below the portion (3-45" of theblade, as shown more particularly in Fig. 2.. The portion 66 of theblades are not in alinement but are arranged at an angle with respect toeach other, and one side edge of the portion 6 is sharpened to form acutting edge 11, and the said edge is at the lower end of the blade orvane 3. The portion 6 of the blade is provided with a series ofdepending cutting pins 12, the series extending radially with respect tothe shaft, and depending to near the lower part of the nut.

Any suitable mechanism may be provided for supporting, guiding andoperating the improved auger or drill, and the device is especiallyadapted for boring post holes or other holes where an easy, quick,operating tool is required.

In operation, the drill is supported in vertical position and is rotatedto cause the bit to cut into the earth. The sharpened edge 11 of the bitwill cut a layer of earth at each rotation of the drill and thedepending pins 12 will loosen the earth so that it may be easilyseparated by the cutting edge. The blade or vane will lift the earth outof the hole and it will be understood that the sleeve 50 is of suchlength that it will lift all of the dirt from the hole to the depthrequired. The pins 12 relieve the cutting edge from considerable strainby loosening the soil before the cutting edge engages the same. The pinsare of especial advantage where small rocks or pebbles are found in thesoil.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character specified, a drill shaft, a sleeve onthe shaft, means for detachably connecting the sleeve to the shaft, aspiral vane on the sleeve, and a cutting bit on the shaft below thesleeve, the drill shaft having its lower end. reduced and having athreaded stem, the bit having a central hub fitting on the reducedportion, and a point for the drill threaded onto the stem and holdingthe bit in place, said bit having its side edge on one side of hubsharpened to form a cutting edge, and belng provided with a series ofradlally spaced depending cutting pins on the other side of a .drillshaft, a sleeve on the shaft, means the hub.

2. In a device of the character specified, a drill shaft, a sleeve onthe shaft, means for detachably connecting the sleeve to the shaft, aspiral vane on the sleeve, and a cutting bit on the shaft below thesleeve, the drill shaft having its lower end reduced and having athreaded stem, the bit having a central hub fitting on the reducedportion, and a point for the drill threaded onto'the stem and holdingthe bit in place.

'8. In a device ofthe character specified, a drill shaft, a sleeve onthe shaft, means for detachably connectingthe sleeve to the shaft, aspiral vane on the sleeve, and cutting bit on the shaft below thesleeve, said bit having its side edge on one side of the hub sharpenedto form a cutting edge,

and being provided with a series of radially spaced depending cuttingpins onthe other side of the hub.

4:. In a device of the character specified,

for detachably connecting the sleeve to the shaft, a spiral vane on thesleeve, and a cutting bit on the shaft below the sleeve, said bit havinga cutting edge at one side of the hub and a plurality of dependingcutting pins at the other side.

5. In combination with the drill shaft and the spiral vane, a bitarranged transversely of the lower end having a cutting edge at one sideof the shaft and having dependingspaced cutting pins at the other sideof the shaft.

WVILLIAM Gr. STOWERS.

\Vitnesses v I H. GUDHEIM, ALEX. BLACK.

Copies of this patent may be'obtained for five cents each,

by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washingtom-D. G.

of the drill shaft, said bit

